Any other "silent dislikers" of dogs?

I cannot stand dogs, I can't tell you if it's the smell or the noise that bothers me the most, but I'm disgusted by them. They're also ugly, without exception.

It seems however that I am not permitted to hold this opinion. First example, we just bought a house and have two small children - my colleagues were telling me "well you definitely need to get a dog now!", and I fobbed it off as being uneasy about taking on a lot of work for an animal I have no experience in caring for. But oh my, the reaction - I hadn't even said the truth, that I'm repulsed by them - "oh your heart will melt the day you bring them home" etc etc. You'd think I'd advocated for murder the way they reacted. They seemed genuinely offended?

Secondly, friend of mine has a lockdown puppy, it's small and yappy. She's a travelling account manager and the dog has to be put into kennels to facilitate this...at great cost. Yet she's even threatening to buy me one (please god no) as a housewarming gift to change my mind. I'm politely declining but what I really want to say is - this doesn't fit my lifestyle, I couldn't care for it if I wanted to (and I don't). She actually seems offended and I'm not even saying anything that bad about dogs.

Why can't I just tell people I do not like dogs? Why is this an unacceptable opinion to hold?

I'm so frustrated by this and so grateful this space exists where I can say that loudly and openly. Because I can't in real life! And I'm even using an alt account on here because I mod a support sub so can't risk upsetting people

Thank you for letting me rant.